Russia says not in talks on post-Assad Syria

MOSCOW - Russia is not discussing plans for a Syrian political transformation that would follow the exit of President Bashar Assad, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday, emphasizing Moscow's position that the country's future is up to Syrians themselves to decide without external pressure.

"As for assertions that we are holding some sort of talks on the fate of Syria after Bashar Assad, I can repeat that this is not true. We do not get involved in overthrowing regimes - neither through approval of unilateral actions by the UN Security Council nor by participation in any political plots," Lavrov said.